An Application of the Electric Flicker Method to Tests of Physical Strength in Normals and Tuberculous Patients

Abstract

Electrical thresholds for appearance and disappearance of electric flicker were measured, and the difference of the two values was denoted by ΔS. The values of ΔS were measured before and after a standard load exercise, a step test lasting several minutes.
A method was devised to find the time required for causing a least significant increase in ΔS by the standard load. The time so measured was designated a LET (least effective time). LETs were measured in 80 healthy adults and 210 patients suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis.
1. In the experiment on normals, any sex difference could not be found concerning LET.
2. Daily variations of LET were not so significant.
3. The distribution curve of LETs for male inpatients occupied. a position intermediate between that for male outpatients and that for female inpatients.
4. A high correlation could be found between LET and the degree of rest cure, the number of months after a chest operation, or the pulmonary capacity.
5. LETs showed close correlation to various clinical signs such as sedimentation rates of blood corpuscles, roentgenograms of the chest, etc.
It was concluded from these findings that the LET serves as an excellent indicator for recovery of the physical strength in patients.